Class XII General English

SECTION C
LESSON 1: THE SCHOOL FOR SYMPATHY

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Who is the writer of the chapter ‘The School for Sympathy’?

Ans. E.V.LUCAS is the writer of the chapter ‘The School for Sympathy’.
2. What does the writer tell us in this story?
Ans. The writer tells us about a new type of school in this story.
3. What did he see when he entered the school?
Ans. He saw a twelve year old girl whose eyes were covered with a bandage.
4. Who was guiding the girl?
Ans. A little boy of about eight was guiding the girl.
5. What was the name of the head girl?
Ans. Millie was the name of the head girl.
Who said these words?
6. “The students were taught practically.”
Ans. Miss Beam
7. “The blind day was the most difficult day.”
Ans. A little girl introduced by Miss Beam to author
8. “They were not really blind or lame.”
Ans. Miss Beam
9. “The real aim of her school was to make the students thoughtful, helpful, sympathetic and good citizens.”
Ans. Miss Beam to the author
10. “The tall girl had worn a blue skirt and a pink blouse. “
Ans. Author to the little girl
Write True or False for the following statements.
11. The writer discovered that he had become much more thoughtful than before. Ans. True
12. Miss Beam was walking up and down the terrace with a dark girl. Ans. False
13. On the lame day an arm was tied up. Ans. False
14. The girl said that peeping would be cheating. Ans. True
15. Miss Beam asked the writer to look out of the door. Ans. False

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What does the author tell us about Miss Beam?
Ans. The author tells us that Miss Beam was a middle-aged, authoritative, kindly and understanding woman.
2. What was the real aim of Miss Beam’s school?
Ans. The real aim of Miss Beam’s school was to make students thoughtful, helpful and sympathetic citizens.
3. Why did the author feel sorry for some of the children?
Ans. The author felt sorry for some of the children because they seemed to be handicapped.
4. Were the children playing in the ground really physically handicapped?
Ans. No, the children playing in the ground were not really physically handicapped.
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 5. Why were the children acting to be blind, deaf or lame?
Ans. The children were acting to be blind, deaf or lame to have a real experience of misfortune.
6. What is the educative value of a blind, deaf or a lame day?
Ans. By these methods, the children come to understand the sufferings of the handicapped and learn to be
sympathetic towards them.
7. Which day was the most difficult for children?
Ans. The blind day was the most difficult day for children.
8. Who did Miss Beam lead the author to?
Ans. Miss Beam led the author to the girl whose eyes were bandaged.
9. How did the girl with the bandaged eyes feel on her blind day?
Ans. The girl with the bandaged eyes felt that it was the most difficult day and all the time she feared that she
was going to be hit by something.
10. What does the girl tell the author about her guides?
Ans. The girl tells the author that the guides are very good.
11. What, according to the girl with the bandaged eyes, is almost fun?
Ans. According to the girl, having a leg tied up and hopping about a crutch is almost fun.
12. Why does the girl with the bandaged eyes say that her head aches all the time on her blind day?
Ans. The girl with the bandaged eyes says that her head aches all the time just from dodging things that are not
there.
13. What does the girl with the bandaged eyes tell the author about the head girl?
Ans. The girl with the bandaged eyes tells the author that the head girl is very decent.
14. What does the girl with the bandaged eyes say about the gardener?
Ans. The girl with the bandaged eyes says that the gardener is hundreds of years old.
15. What made Miss Beam think that there was something in her system?
Ans. The author was impressed by the originality of Miss Beam’s school. So she thought that there was
something in her system because her school had taught the author to share the sorrows of others.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Give brief character-sketch of Miss Beam.
Ans. Miss Beam is the main character of the story ‘The School for Sympathy’. It is written by E. V. Lucas. Miss
Beam was middle-aged, kind-hearted, authoritative and full of understanding. She started a new type of school. Here
the students were given the education of humanity and citizenship along with important school subjects. The real aim
of Miss Beam’s school was to make students thoughtful, helpful and sympathetic citizens. Every child in her school
had one blind, maimed, deaf, lame and dumb day (five days) to have a real experience of misfortune. She was a
practical lady. The author was impressed by the originality of Miss Beam’s school. Her school had taught the author to
share the sorrows of others . In short we can say that she was a very imaginative lady. She is an inspiring character for
us.
2. What is the theme of the lesson ‘The School for Sympathy’?
Ans. ‘The School for Sympathy’ is written by E .V. Lucas. The lesson is based on the idea that formal education is not
enough. It should give something more. The real aim of Miss Beam’s new type of school was to make students
thoughtful, helpful and sympathetic citizens. Every child in her school had one blind, maimed, deaf, lame and dumb day
to have a real experience of misfortune. Other children were advised to help them and lead them out. Thus they taste
the misfortune. As a result, they learn to be kind towards disabled people. The author was impressed by the
originality of Miss Beam’s school. Miss Beam is an inspiring character for us.

LESSON 2: A CHAMELEON

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. Where was the police superintendent Otchumyelov walking?
Ans. Across the market square
Q2. Who was walking after him?
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 Ans. Yeldyrin, a red-haired policeman
Q3. Who was Prohor?
Ans. The General’s cook
Q4. What did Hryukin display to the crowd?
Ans. His bleeding finger.
Q5. Why did the crowd laughed at Hryukin at the end?
Ans. Because he failed to get some money from the dog’s owner.
Fill in the blanks with the suitable option:-
1. A red-haired policeman walks after him with a sieve full of in his hands.
(strawberries/gooseberries) Ans. gooseberries
2. Yeldyrin was a . (plumber/police man/police superintendent) Ans. police man
3. was chasing the dog. (Prohor/Yeldyrin/Hryukin) Ans. Hryukin
4. Hryukin raised his hand. (left/right) Ans. right
5. Prohor states that the dog belongs to brother. (General’s/Colonel’s) Ans. General’s
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Where was the police superintendent Otchumyelov walking? What was he carrying under his arm?
Ans. The police superintendent Otchumyelov was walking across the market square. He was carrying a parcel under his
arm.
2. Who was walking after him?
Ans. Yeldyrin, a red-haired policeman was walking after him.
3. What was the red-haired policeman carrying in his hands?
Ans. The red-haired policeman was carrying a sieve full of gooseberries in his hands.
4. Who was chasing the dog?
Ans. Hryukin was chasing the dog.
5. Why was Hryukin chasing the dog?
Ans. Hryukin was chasing the dog because the dog had bitten his finger and it was bleeding.
6. What was Hryukin wearing?
Ans. Hryukin was wearing a starched cotton shirt with the waistcoat unbuttoned.
7. What did Hryukin display to the crowd?
Ans. Hryukin displayed his bleeding finger to the crowd.
8. How was Hryukin’s bleeding finger a flag of victory?
Ans. Hryukin’s bleeding finger was a flag of victory because the law was on his side. A stray dog was not allowed to
move freely.
9. Why did Hryukin think that he must have damages?
Ans. Hryukin thought that he must be compensated because of his bitten finger. He will have to stay without work for a
week.
10. What was Otchumyelov’s first reaction on Hryukin’s complaint?
Ans. Otchumyelov’s first reaction on Hryukin’s complaint was very fair and impartial. He assured him to take legal
action against the offenders.
11. Why did Otchumyelov later refuse to take any action against the owner of the dog?
Ans. Later Otchumyelov refused to take any action against the owner of the dog because it was the General’s dog.
12. What was police superintendent’s opinion about the biting of the dog when he came to know that it was the General’s
dog?
Ans. When police superintendent came to know that it was the General’s dog he changed his opinion and said that the
little dog could not have bitten such a huge man.
13. What did the policeman tell the superintendent about the General’s dog?
Ans. The policeman told the superintendent that it was not General’s dog. He had high breed dogs.
14. Who was Prohor?
Ans. Prohor was the cook of the General.
15. What information did Prohor give about the dog?
Ans. Prohor gave the information that the dog was of General’s brother.
16. Why did the crowd laugh at Hryukin at the end of the story?
Ans. The crowd laughed at Hryukin at the end of the story because he did not get compensation for his bleeding finger.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. Give a brief character-sketch of Otchumyelov.
Ans. Otchumyelov is the main character of the story ‘A Chameleon’. It is written by Anton Chekhov. He is an interesting
character. The writer has tried to throw light on the theme of this story through this character. Otchumyelov was the
Police Superintendent in a town. When Hryukin made a complaint. He listened to him very carefully. He posed to be
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strict. He wanted to teach a lesson to those people who left their dogs out. But he changed his stand every now and then.
When he comes to know that the dog belonged to a General. He begins to feel hot and removed his coat. He asked
Hryukin how a small dog could bite a big man like him. He was a comic figure. He had a flattering nature.
Q2. Give a brief character-sketch of Hryukin.
Ans. Hryukin is the second main character in the story ‘A Chameleon’. It is written by Anton Chekhov. Hryukin was a
goldsmith. He had a sharp brain. In the beginning of the story Hryukin was chasing the dog because the dog had bitten
his finger and it was bleeding. Hryukin displayed his bleeding finger to the crowd. He thought that he must be
compensated because of his bitten finger. He will have to stay without work for a week. He was a liar. He wanted to
make easy money. The dog did not bite him. He put a cigarette in the dog’s mouth and so the dog bit his finger.
Firstly, the police superintendent assured him to take legal action against the offenders. But, when he came to know that it
was the General’s dog he changed his opinion and said that the little dog could not have bitten such a huge man. The
crowd laughed at him in the end because he did not get compensation for his bleeding finger.
Q.3 Why is the chapter titled “A Chameleon”? Describe in detail.
Ans. The title of the story is very appropriate. It throws light on the theme of the story. Chameleon is a reptile that
changes its colour to match its surroundings. A man who changes according to situation, for his benefit, is also called
chameleon. In the story, the policeman, Otchumyelov behaves like a chameleon as he changes his stand frequently.
Hryukin complains about dog bite to the policeman. He shows his bleeding finger and demands compensation from the
dog’s owner. Otchumyelov promises to do justice. He tries to find out the dog’s owner. When he comes to know that the
dog belongs to the General, he changes his stand. He starts shouting at Hryukin. After some time, Prohor the General’s
cook tells that the dog does not belong to the General Otchumyelov immediately changes his stand and once again
promises justice to Hryukin. Later, when Prohor tells that the General’s brother is the real owner of the dog, the
policeman Otchumyelov changes his stand for the third time. Thus, we can say that his behaviour justifies the title of the
story.
Q4. Why did Otchumyelov’s statement keep on changing regarding Hryukin’s complaint?
Ans. Otchumyelov is a police officer in this story. He had a flattering nature. He shows sympathy with Hryukin. He
shouts that he will take action against the owner of the dog. But when he comes to know that the dog belonged to General
Zhigalov. He changes his attitude. Later he comes to know that it is not the General’s dog. He again takes the side of
Hryukin. But then the cook tells him that the dog belongs to the General’s brother. He once again changes his attitude.

Q5. Otchumyelov took off or put on his coat with every new statement. What does this show?
Ans. Otchumyelov takes off or puts on his overcoat with every new statement. He shows sympathy with Hryukin. He
shouts that he will take action against the owner of the dog. But when he comes to know that the dog belonged to
General. He feels uneasy. He takes off his coat. He changes his attitude. Later he comes to know that it is not the
General’s dog. He puts on the coat. He again takes the side of Hryukin. But then the cook tells him that the dog belongs
to the General’s brother. He once again changes his attitude. In this way taking off and wearing it again, shows the
Chameleonic nature of Otchumyelov.

LESSON 3: BHOLI

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. What was Bholi’s real name? Ans. Sulekha.

Q2. What was her age when she fell off the cot? Ans. Ten months
Q3. How many brothers did Bholi have? Ans. Three brothers
Q4. What were the names of Bholi’s sisters? Ans. Radha, Mangla and Champa.
Q5. Who came to the village to perform the opening ceremony of the school? Ans. The Tehsildar.
Q6. Who was Bishamber? Ans. A grocer.
Q7. What did Bholi wear on her wedding day? Ans. A red silken dress.
Q8. How much money did Bishamber demand as dowry? Ans. Five thousand rupees.
Q9. Where were Bholi’s brothers sent to study? Ans. To colleges in a nearby city.
Q10. What made Bholi independent and respectable in the society? Ans. Her education.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. How many siblings did Bholi have?
Ans. Bholi had three brothers and three sisters.
Q2. Why was Sulekha called Bholi, the simpleton?
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Ans. Sulekha was called Bholi, the simpleton because she was a backward child.
Q3. What was the effect of small-pox on Bholi?
Ans. Her body was permanently disfigured by deep black pock marks.
Q4. Why did the other children make fun of Bholi?
Ans. The other children made fun of Bholi because she stammered and could not speak properly.
Q5. Why was Ramlal worried about Bholi?
Ans. Ramlal was worried about Bholi because she was neither beautiful nor intelligent.
Q6. Why did the Tehsildar come to the Village?
Ans. The Tehsildar came to the village to perform the opening ceremony of the new school.
Q7. Why did the Tehsildar want Ramlal to send his daughters to the school?
Ans. The Tehsildar wanted Ramlal to send his daughters to the school because he wanted Ramlal to set an example for
the whole village.
Q8. Why did Ramlal’s wife agree to send Bholi but not her other daughters to school?
Ans. Ramlal’s wife feared that if her girls went to school, no one would marry them. As Bholi had little chance of
getting married, so she agreed to send Bholi to school.
Q9. Why was Bholi glad to see so many girls of her age at school?
Ans. Bholi was glad to see so many girls of her age at school because she hoped one of these girls might become her
friend.
Q10. What happened when the teacher asked her name?
Ans. She stammered and was unable to speak her name properly.
Q11. Why did Bholi’s parents agree to Bishamber’s proposal for Bholi?
Ans. Bholi’s parents agreed to Bishamber’s proposal for Bholi because he did not demand any dowry and also knew
nothing about Bholi’s ugly face and her being mentally backward.
Q12. How did Bishamber come to wed Bholi?
Ans. Bishamber came to wed Bholi with a large marriage party. His friends and relatives were dancing to the tunes of
the marriage band.
Q13. Why did Bishamber demand five thousand rupees as dowry?
Ans. Bishamber demanded five thousand rupees as dowry because Bholi was ugly and he saw it as a bright chance to
earn some money.
Q14. Why did Bholi refuse to marry Bishamber?
Ans. Bholi refused to marry Bishamber because he was a greedy and mean person.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. Describe, in brief, the early childhood of Bholi?
Ans. Bholi was Ramlal’s youngest daughter. Her real name was Sulekha. She fell down from a cot when she was ten
months old. It damaged some part of her brain. So she was a backward child. She had an attack of small pox when she
was two years old. It spoiled her face forever. She began to speak at the age of five years. She stammered when she
spoke. She was disliked and neglected by everyone. So she was shy and fearful. She was called a witless fool. Her
teacher helped her overcome her weakness.

Q2. Ramlal was not worried about his children except Bholi. Why?
Ans. Ramlal had seven children and Bholi was his youngest daughter. All the children were healthy and strong except
Bholi. He sent his sons to city to study in schools and colleges. He had married off his eldest daughter, Radha. It was not
difficult to find bride grooms for Mangla and Champa because they were good looking. Ramlal was worried about Bholi
because she was neither good looking nor intelligent.

Q3. Write, in brief, a character-sketch of Bholi’s teacher?

Ans. Bholi’s teacher plays an important role in her life. Bholi was confused and afraid when she went to school for the
first time. When her teacher asked her name, she stammered. She could not speak properly. She began to weep. The
teacher was very kind and caring. She pushed out her fears and made her confident. The teacher taught Bholi to speak
clearly and without halting. She groomed Bholi into a self-reliant young woman. So, we can say that Bholi’s teacher
shaped her life positively.

Q4. Write, in brief, a character-sketch of Bishamber?

Ans. Bishamber was a rich grocer from a nearby village. He was about fifty years old. He was a widower. He had
children from his earlier wife also. He wanted to marry Bholi. Ramlal accepted his proposal. At the time of marriage, he
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saw Bholi’s face that was ugly with pock marks. He refused to marry Bholi. He was ready to marry Bholi only if
Ramlal gave him five thousand rupees. But, Bholi refused to marry him. So, he had to go back .Thus, he was a greedy and
mean person.
LESSON 4: THE GOLD FRAME

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What was the name of Datta’s shop? Ans. The Modern Frame Works
2. Datta’s shop was located in a gap between a drug store and . Ans. a radio repair shop
3. What did the customer want to get framed? Ans. The customer wanted to get the picture of his grandfather framed.
4. What price did Datta quote for the frame?
a. seven rupees b. seventeen rupees c. ten rupees d. twenty rupees Ans. b. seventeen rupees
5. How much time did Datta ask for the picture to be framed?
a. two weeks b. ten days c. a month d. two days Ans. a. two weeks
6. Datta had learnt from experience that all the customers were punctual. (True/False) Ans. False
7. A Tin containing white enamel paint landed on the picture. (True/False) Ans. True
8. The customer had asked for a cut mount with an oval shape. (True/False) Ans. True
9.What were the walls of Datta’s shop covered with?
a. clocks b. pictures c. lights d. balloons Ans. b. pictures
10. Who was the owner of ‘The Modern Frame Works’?
a. Datta b. Datti c. Guru Nayak d. Chandu Ans. a. Datta
11. Who is the author of the story, ‘The Gold Frame’? Ans. R.K. Laxman
12. The customer came days in advance to collect his grandfather’s framed photo. Ans. four
13. Datta told the customer that the frame was imported from .
a. Italy b. France c. Germany d. Japan Ans. Germany
14. Datta was an . (introvert/extrovert) Ans. introvert
15. The customer discovered that the photograph was a fake one. (True/False) Ans. False
16. Was the customer punctual or unpunctual?
Ans: The customer was punctual. He came four days in advance to collect the frame.
17. What was Datta’s reaction?
Ans: Datta looked sideways at him and continued doing his work so that the customer was embarrassed.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Where was the ‘The Modern Frame Works’ situated?
Ans: The Modern Frame Works was situated in a gap between a drug store and a radio repair shop.
2. Who was the owner of ‘The Modern Frame Works’?
Ans: Datta was the owner of ‘The Modern Frame Works’.
3. What were the walls of this shop covered with?
Ans: The walls of this shop were covered with the pictures of gods, saints, hockey players, children, and cheap prints of
the Mona Lisa, national leaders, wedding couples, Urdu calligraphy, the snow-clad Fujiyama and many others.
4. What did the customer want?
Ans: The customer wanted to get his grandfather’s portrait framed with the best frame.
5. What types of frames did Datta show to the customer?
Ans: Datta showed plain, wooden, lacquer, gold, plastic, decorative, floral, geometrical, thin, hefty, enamel painted,
plain mount and cut mount frames to the customer.
6. What did Datta do to help the customer make his choice?
Ans: Datta helped the confused customer by recommending a German-imported frame with lots of gold leaves and
winding creepers. He also suggested that a cut mount frame would look more elegant.
7. What price did Datta quote for the frame selected by his customer?
Ans: Datta quoted seventeen rupees for the frame selected by his customer.
8. What was Datta’s experience about his customers?

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Ans: Datta had learnt by long experience that his customers never came punctually. They came days in advance and
went away disappointed or came months later, and some never turned up at all.
9. For whom did Datta make frames?
Ans: Datta made frames for those who came to him and visited him at least twice.
10. How did the photograph get damaged?
Ans: While looking for his pencil stub, Datta shook his dhoti so vigorously that a tin of white enamel paint fell on the
photograph. Later, he rubbed the picture so hard with a piece of cloth to remove the paint that the photograph got
damaged completely.
11. How did he try to rescue the picture?
Ans: In order to rescue the picture, he rubbed the picture hard with a piece of cloth to remove the paint.
12. What solution did Datta finally come up with?
Ans: Datta decided to frame a photograph resembling closely to the photograph of the customer’s grandfather and pass
it on to him.
13. Why were the days that followed filled with suspense and anxiety?
Ans: The days that followed were filled with suspense and anxiety because he was scared that if the customer happened
to arrive at his shop all of a sudden when he would not be mentally prepared to face the situation, he might then, get
nervous and spoil all his plan himself.
14. What effect did the picture have on the customer?
Ans: The customer was so wonder-struck by the grandeur of the glittering frame that he became speechless.
15. What was the customer’s complaint regarding the frame?
Ans: The customer complained that he had ordered for an oval cut mount frame and not a square one.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How did the author describe the shop owned by Datta?
Ans: The name of Datta’s shop was ‘The Modern Frame Works’ but the shop lacked any modernity. It was, in fact, a
large wooden packing case situated in a gap between a drug store and a radio repair shop. It was fixed on shaky legs.
The walls of this shop were covered with the pictures of gods, saints, hockey players, children, and cheap prints of the
Mona Lisa, national leaders, wedding couples, Urdu calligraphy, the snow-clad Fujiyama and many others.
2. What had Datta learnt from his experience? How was his new customer different from the old ones?
Ans: Datta had learnt from his long experience that his customers never came punctually. They came days in advance
and went away disappointed or came months later, and some never turned up at all and their pictures lay unclaimed in a
box, gathering dust and feeding cockroaches and silver fish. On the contrary, Datta’s new customer had come four days
earlier than the scheduled date to collect his grandfather’s framed portrait.
3. What impression do you gather about Datta, the frame maker?
Ans: Datta was a frame maker. He was a silent, hardworking man. He was always seen sitting hunched up doing some
work or the other. He was an introvert. He did not allow his casual friends to visit his shop and indulge him in idle
gossips. He gave very brief answers to the questions his customers asked. Datta was very callous. He did not pay any
attention to what the customer was saying so respectfully about the greatness of his grandfather. Being a good and
experienced workman, he used to get many orders for frame making. Datta understood the psychology of his customers
so that he executed the order of only those customers who he felt were eager to get the photographs framed. Though
diligent in the first part of the story, he creates doubt in the minds of the readers by cheating the customer. Had he
accepted his fault humbly, he could have earned more respect from the readers.
4. Datta found a solution to his problem. Did it work for him? Justify your answer.
Ans: A customer had given his grandfather’s photograph to Datta to get it framed with the best frame. Unfortunately,
Datta damaged the photograph by dropping white enamel paint on it accidentally. He got scared but he decided to frame
a photograph resembling closely to the photograph of the customer’s grandfather and pass it on to him. He did it. It
worked for him. The photograph looked attractive in the gold frame. When the customer came for the photograph,
Datta handed it over to him with a pounding heart. The customer was so wonder-struck by the grandeur of the glittering
frame that he became speechless. He could not discover that the photograph was a fake one. He did complain but the
complaint was that he had ordered for an oval cut mount frame and not a square one.

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LESSON 5: BARBER’S TRADE UNION
OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS
1. What did Chandu win at school?
a) A prize b) A book c) A scholarship d) Nothing Ans. c) A Scholarship
2. What kind of shoes did the writer wear?
a) Silver worked (b) Brass worked (c) Gold worked d) Copper worked Ans. c) Gold Worked
3. Who gave khaki shorts to Chandu?
a) sahukar b) Numberdars c) Subedar d) Zaildar Ans. c) Subedar
4. What did Lala Hukum Chand give to Chandu?
a) Hat b) Round felt cap c) Leather shoes d) Scissors Ans. b) Round felt cap
5. Which disease did Chandu's father die of?
a) T.B b) Flu c) Plague d) Fever Ans. c) Plague
6. Chandu was an expert at catching …………………
a) wasps b) butterflies c) snakes d) lizards Ans. a) wasps
7. How did lawyer Lala Hukam Chand go to the district court?
a)On foot b) By bus c) By bicycle d) By Phaeton Ans. d)By Phaeton
8.. Name the dentist .
a) Phallan khan b) Kally Khan c) Kalan Khan d) Salim Khan Ans. c) Kalan Khan
9. How far was Jandiala from Chandu’s village?
a) One mile b) Two miles c) Three miles d) Four miles Ans. c) Three Miles
10. Whose son was Devi?
a) Sahukar's b) Parwanand's c) Bijaychand's d) Padre Sahib’s Ans. A) Sahukar’s
11. What was the make of Chandu's bicycle?
a) German b) Japanese c) Chinese d) Indian Ans. B) Japanese
12. The Sahukar looked like a without being trimmed by the barber. (beggar, leper) Ans. Leper
13. Thanu Ram was running a shop in the village (Grocer’s / leather) Ans. Grocer’s
14. Chandu’s mother was a woman. (cantankerous/ gregarious ) Ans. Cantankerous
15. The villagers thought of calling the barber from to attend upon them.(Verka/Rajkot) Ans. Verka
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. What was the age difference between Chandu and the narrator?
Ans:- Chandu was six months elder than the narrator.
Q. 2. Why did the narrator consider Chandu the embodiment of perfection for him?
Ans:- The narrator considered Chandu the embodiment of perfection because he could make and fly paper kites of
various designs.
Q. 3. Why was Chandu not good at doing sums at school?
Ans:- Chandu had to work as a barber. So he had no time to study. That is why he was not good at doing sums at
school.
Q. 4. Why did the narrator's mother constantly dissuade him to play with Chandu?
Ans:- The narrator's mother dissuaded him to play with Chandu because he was a low caste barber boy. Friendship with
him was against the reputation of the narrator’s caste.
Q.5. What does the narrator tell us about Chandu's dress?
Ans:- Chandu wore khakhi shorts, black velvet coat and a round cap.
Q.6. What did Chandu tell the narrator about Kalan Khan's appearance?
Ans:- Kalan Khan was a young man with parted hair, dressed in a shirt, a black coat and a wonderful rubber overcoat
and shoes.
Q. 7. Why did Bijay Chand, the landlord turn Chandu out of his house?
Ans:- Bijay Chand, the landlord turned Chandu out of his house because he had defiled his house by bringing a leather
bag of cow-hide into his house.
Q. 8. What did the Sahukar think about Chandu’s wearing clothes like a doctor?
Ans:- The Sahukar thought that Chandu looked like a clown in those clothes.
Q. 9. Why had the landlord summoned Pandit Parmanand?
Ans:- The landlord had summoned Pandit Parmanand to discuss the unholy emergency in which Chandu had landed.
Q. 10. What type of woman was Chandu’s mother?
Ans:- Chandu’s mother was an ill-tempered woman.

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Q. 11. How did Chandu’s mother treat the narrator?
Ans:- She was very kind to the narrator though she bantered him sometimes.
Q. 12. Why did Chandu decide to go on strike?
Ans:- Chandu decided to go on strike to teach the upper-caste people a lesson.
Q. 13. Why did Chandu decide to buy a bicycle?
Ans:- Chandu decided to buy a bicycle to go to the town everyday and give people a shave and hair-cut.
Q. 14. Why had the men gathered in the Sahukar's shop?
Ans:- The men had gathered in the shop to talk to the landlord.
Q. 15. How did the Sahukar look without being trimmed by the barber?
Ans:- The Sahukar looked like a leper with the brown colour of tobacco on his big moustaches.
Q. 16. What jokes became popular in every home and why?
Ans:- Jokes about unkempt beards of the elders of the village became popular in every home.
Q. 17. What was the reason of rumour that the landlord's wife had threatened to run away with someone else?
Ans:- The reason of the rumour was that the landlord looked very shabby with his unshaven beard and his young wife
did not like it.
Q. 18. Why did the village elders threaten Chandu?
Ans:- The village elders threatened to have him sent to prison for not giving them a shave and hair-cut.
Q. 19. Name the union that gave birth to many other active trade unions in the town?
Ans:- The name of the union was 'Rajkot District Barber Brothers' Hairdressing and Shaving Saloon'.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Give a brief character-sketch of Chandu.
Ans. Chandu is the main character of the story ‘The Barber’s Trade Union’ written by Mulk Raj Anand. All the incidents
of the story revolve around him. Chandu is an interesting character. He was a barber boy. He was a close friend of the
writer. He was not good at doing sums. He went to learn the work of barber after school. He was an expert at making
kites. He had a sharp mind. He belonged to a low caste. Upper caste people often abused him. He made a barber’s union.
Chandu was a self-respecting, hard-working and brave man. He bought a cycle and started shaving people in the town.
He set up a barber’s shop. He leaves a deep impact upon our mind. This character has many colours of human life.
2. How did the village elders behave when Chandu dressed up like a doctor?
Ans. The writer was thrilled to see him, but the landlords of the village became angry and they addressed him with
derogatory words. The village Sahukar also insulted him. He said that he should wear only cheap clothes which suit his
class.
3. Give a brief character-sketch of Chandu’s mother.
Ans. Chandu’s mother is an interesting character of the story. She was about sixty years old. She was an ill-tempered
lady. She belonged to low caste and dared to see high class people in her own way. She was always kind to the narrator.
She loved her son. When Chandu started shaving people in the town and earned more money, she became happy.
4. Why did Chandu go on a strike? What was the result of the strike?
Ans. Chandu was the son of a barber. When the village elders insulted him, he decided to teach them a lesson. He
bought a second hand cycle. He started going to the city to shave people. He told that he was on strike. He stopped
shaving the village people. All looked funny because of their unshaved faces. He opened a shop. And they had to come
to his shop.